Typewriter



L. R. ROBERTS. A

TYPEWRITER.

APPLlCATlONFlLED AUGl I3. 1919. 1,431,983.. Patented oct. 17, 31922.

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PATENT' ortica.

' LYMlAN it.v lRenners or RUTHERORD.

innata NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 L. R. ROBERTS TYPEWRITER COMP-AN Y, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F DELA- .wann- TYPEWR'ITER.

Application led 'August 13, 1919. n Serial No. 317,118.

To all whom 'it may concern.' 1

'Be it known that I, LYMAN R. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutherford, county of Bergen,and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new land useful Improvements in'Typewrters, fully i described and represented in the following re laced as a unit.

specification and the accompanying ings, forming a part of the same.

his invention relatesto typewriters.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved typewriter in which the type bars may be readily removed and drawparts in transverse section and parts broken away, of so much of a typewriter as is neces- Sailly to' an understanding of the invention; ig.l2 is a view of the same in vertical 'longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing in detail one end-of the ty e'bar segment;

Fig. 4 is an en arged view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the connection between a key lever and its link.; and

ig. 5 is a transverse sectional view y through one type bar and key lever mechanism removed. 4

The typewriter illustrated includes, 1n general, a frame, a carriage truck movable relatively to the frame 4for case shift move!v ment, and a platen carriage movable'across the truck for printing. Referring to the drawing, there is provided in the present embodiment a frame 11 illustrated more or less conventionally. At the rear corners of the frame are cylindrical bearing members 12 in which slide -plungers 13. Mounted on these plungers to be moved thereby, is

a carriage truck in the form of a rigid plate.

14. The plungers 13 are connected below the bearings 12 by a cross rod 13a which is removable. plungers may be raised to give case shift movement to the carriage truck. This may be accomplished .by any suitable construction, such as that shown and described in the By. means of this cross rod thel y applicants'copending application, Ser. No.

The shaft 1501 the platen 16 is journaled in the end pieces 17 of a platen carriage 18. To mount the carriage for suitable printing movement, two setsof ball bearings 19 ride in grooved rails 20 on the carriage and in a double groo'ved guide 21supported from the truck plate 14 by two bracket arms 22. The carriage is driven 'through an escapement mechanism of any suitable construction, power being derived from aspring drum 23 on the frame, having a cord 211 connected to one end of the carriage.

There is provided a set of type bars and a set of operating mechanisms, each type bar being .freely removable from its respective operating mechanism =when in a position of rest and locked -thereto during operation. In structures embodying theinvention to the best advantage, the operating mechanisms include members having sliding contact with type bars toA actuate the same. Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment, there is provided a set` of type bars 26 each having three type characters 27. l These type bars are pivotally mounted, as hereinafter described, to swing upwardly to the platen. The operating mechanisms for the-type bars include a set of key levers 28 having finger pieces or keys 29, and a set of operating levers 30. These operating levers, pivotally mounted as hereinafter described, have no positive connection with the type bars but are arranged to operate the latter by sliding contact so that the type bars may be freely removed` To this'end, each operating lever 30 is provided with a pin 31 bearing against the bottom edge of its respective type bar. When the operating member 30 is swung upwardly by the key lever, the pin 31 slides along the type bar, thus swinging the latter for its printing stroke.

To lock the type bar and its operating lever together during the operation, the type bar is provided with an arm 32 which forms an open ended slot in which the pin 31 rides during operation. The arm 32 is of such length that when the type bar is at restthe lpin is outside the slot. In other words, the type bar is freely removablel from lever 30 when at rest, but iS locked thereto during operation.

To operably connect the key levers and the operatin levers 30, links 33 are provided, these lin s being pinned to the levers 30. As will be apparent from Fig. 1, the operating levers 30 move in converging or radial planes whereas the key levers move in parallel planes. The various links 33, therefore, are of different lengths and are bent to different angles in accordance wih their position. T hus, those at the outside are' longer and have a sharper angle than those nearer the center, as will be clear from Fig. 1f

To connect the key levers with the links operated thereby, as here shown as an ex.- ample each key lever, near its rear end, is formed with a hole 34 of the form shown in Fig. 4 having an upwardly curved bottom edge 35. Insertable in this hole, is an offset, forked, interlocking portion 36 formed on the end of link 33. It will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that with the construction described, the parts are interlocked but the link has play in two directions, the forked end 36 rocking along and across the curved edge 35. At the same time, it is noted there is no undue lost motion and the construction facilitates assembly of the parts. A

The several keys 29 forming the key-board are arranged,- in the present embodiment, in three banks and to obtain equal throw for the various keys, the key levers of the several banks are pivoted in different transverse planes. There is provided means for pivotally mounting the several key levers and a single support for the several pivots. In structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, there is provided a hanger having longitudinal slots for pivot wires and transverse slots 'for the key levers. Although capable of various constructions, in

that illustrated, extending from side to sideV of the frame is ahanger 37 in the form of a block of metal suspendedin the frame by screws'38. This hanger has a plurality of transverse slots 39 equal in number to the key-levers. In these slots thekey levers are pivotally mounted. T o this end, each key lever has an upwardly extending, perforated lug 40 which enters one of the slots 39. In the slots, the lugs of the key levers of a given bank are hung on a common pivot wire 41 carried in a longitudinal, undercut slot 42 also formed in the hanger 37 Since the keys are arranged in three banks, there'are three of these pivot wires, as appears in Fig. 2. Figure 2 shows a representative key lever of the middle bank pivoted on the middle wlre, representative pivot lugs of levers of the other two banks being shown hung on the front and rear wires. To return the key levers to normal position after each operation, between the hanger 37 and each kev lever is a small coil spring 43. n

The structure described provides a one plece hanger for a plurality of banks of key levers such that the pivot wires are all supported adjacent the pivotal points. Furthermore, the same part, that is the hanger 3 7, serves as a backing for the return springs which are thus largely enclosed and out of the way.

To guide the key levers and to limit their movement in either direction, front and rear comb plates 44, 44a are provided.

Typewriters embodying the invention in its entirety have provision for the ready removal and insertion of the type bars as a unit. The invention includes a removable type bar segment in which the type bars are pivotally mounted, the segment having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which the supporting projections cooperate. Although capable of various constructions, as here illustrated, the type bars are pivotally mounted in a segment 45 having a plurality of radial slots 46 which are struck from a common center. Each type bar is formed at its inner end with a rounded portion, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, which is inserted in one of the slots 46 and which is perforated for the reception of a common pivot wire 47. This pivot wire is concentric with the segment and is seated in the bottom of a V-shaped groove 48 formed in the outer edge of the segment. To return the type bars to normaly position, the segment carries,` for each type bar, a bracket 50 to which is secured a sprlng 51, the other end of which is secured to the heel of the corresponding type bar.

At each end, the segment is formed with a supporting projection 52, adapted to. rest on a flat ledge on al supporting upright 53 formed by part of the frame. Means 1s provided for accurately positioning the segment on the supporting uprights. This maybe accomplished, for example, by a positioning member on one of the cooperating supporting surfaces. As shown, set in the face o f the supporting upright 53 is a dowel 54 adapted to enter a suitable hole in the under side of the projection 52 on the segment, this face of the projection being covered with a hardened steel plate 54a. When the projections 52 are slipped over the dowels 54, the segment 1s accurately positioned on its supporting uprights.

The invention includes pressure means forv clamping the segment in position and means for preventing the force of the pressure means at one side from being transferred across the segment. This may be accomplished, for example, by yielding means for taking the force of the pressureV means. A lthough capable of various constructions, v1n the present embodiment, secured to the top of the segment 45 is a spring angle-plate 55 of the form shown more clearly in Fig. 1. Opposite the ends of the segment, the frame has bearings 56 through which are threaded r,the screw 57 passes through a suitable opening in the spring plate 55 and enters the groove 48 in thesegment. When the seg- `ment has been positioned, it is securely clamped in place by the two ressure screws 57. The screws 57 passloose y through the holes in the spring plates, contacting with the plates at `the bottom of the holes and thereby directing the force of the screws to press the projections 52 down against the supporting uprights. That is, as the screws -are tightened up to the point where the shouldered heads 58 engage the bearings 56, the force of the screws is taken by the yielding plates 55. With this construction, the vforce of one screw is not transferred across the segment and the pressure on the segment is always substantially the-same, with the result that the operation of clamping the segment in place does not disturb the proper alignment of the types.

Below the removable segment 45, as here shown as an example, is a second and fixed segment 58 having a plurality of slots 58a in which the operating levers 30 are mounted. As will be apparent from the drawings, the operating'levers 30 are oi'set slightly from the type bars. The slots 58a in the fixed segment are accordingly offset from the slots 46 of the type bar segment, and are cut from a common center which is offset to the same side oi the center of the slots 46. As will appear in Figure 1, the operating levers 30 are on the inside of the type bars, so that the positions for one-half -of the 'type basket are reversed in the other half. Consequently, the slots 58";l on the left hand side of the type basket have a common center offset slightly to the right of the center of the slots 46, whereas the right hand slots 58a are formed on a center similarly offset to the left of the center of the slots 46. The operating levers 30 are pivoted on a common pivot Vwire 59 which is concentric with the pivot wire 47 of the type bars and is seated inthe bottom vof a recess 6()l formed in the front of segment 57. v

With the construction described, removal and insertion of the type bars for substitution or the like, are extremely simple operations. By loosening'the screws 57,y

the segment 45 carrying the type bars is fr ee' .to be lifted away from its support, the individual type bars being freely separable from their operating mechanisms as before described. In replacing the saine,

or a substitute segment, it is only necessary to place the segment on its rights with the projections dowels 54, and to tighten There is no necessity supporting upfitting over the the screws 57. for careful adjustment with said or manipulation of the parts. Further, it is noted that with the construction described, this positioning of. the. type bar segment'reestablishes the operating relation between the type bars and they key lever mechanisms without the loss of alignment. What is claimed is: 1. In a typewriter, and in combination, ja removable type bar segment in'which the type bars are pivotally mounted, said segment having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which said projections cooperate, pressure means for clamping the segment in place, and means for preventing the force ofthe pressure means at one side from being Vtransferred across the segment. v

2. In a. typewriter, and in combination, a removable type bar segment in which ythe type bars are pivotally mounted, said ,segment having supporting projectionsy andbeing hung between supporting'uprights with which said projections cooperate, pressure means at each side for clamping the'segment in position, and yielding means for taking the force of said pressure means.

F3. In a typewriter, and in combination, a removable type bar segment in which the type bars are pivotally mounted, said segment having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which said projections cooperate, one of the supporting parts having a dowel and the other a dowel receiving hole, for positioning the segment, a pressure screw at each side for clamping the segment in position, and yielding means for taking the force of said pressure screws. v

4. In a typewriter, and in combination, a I

removable type bar segment in which the type bars are pivotally mounted, saidsegment having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which said projections cooperate, one of the supporting parts having a dowel and the other a dowel receiving hole for positionin the segment, a bearing associated with eac supporting upright, pressure screws threaded through said bearings for clampingy the segment in place, said screws having shoulders engaging said bearings when the screws are tightened to clamping position, and yielding means for taking the force of said screws.

5. In a typewriter, and in combination, a

removablev type bar segment in which the type bars are pivotally mounted, said segment having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which said projections cooperate, dowels on said supporting uprights, dowel receiving holes in said projections, bearings associated supporting uprights, pressure screws threaded through said bearings, and a spring plate on each end of the segment for taking the force of said screws.

6. In a typewriter, and in combination, a removable type' bar segment in which the type bars are pivotally mounted, said segment having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which said projections cooperate, dowe'ls on said supporting uprights, dowel recelving holes in said projections, bearings associated with ,said supporting uprights, pressure screws having shoulders engaging the, bearings when the screws are tightened to clamp ing position, and a spring plate on each end of the segment for taking the force of said 7. In a typewriter, and in combination, a

removable type bar segment in -which theA type bars are pivotally mounted, said segv vthrough said bearings and adapted to enter the segment, between the latter and the bearings, for taking the forcev of said screws.

8. In a typewriter, and in combination, a removable type bar segmenthaving a plurality of radial slots in which the type bars are pivotally mounted., and having supporting projections and being hung between supporting uprights with which said projections cooperate, a second segment having a plurality of radial slots in which the operating members for the type bars are pivotally mounted, the slots of the rst segment having a common center, and the slots of the second segment having two centers, eachl common to part of the slots and each offset LYMAN n. ROBERTS.v

from the center of the type bar slots, pres 

